Shear assembly for a moving web



June ,7 1965 H. A. scd'r'r ETAL SHEAR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOVING WEB 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1963 HARRY A E CHRRLES A UNC'RPHER M W IATTORNEY-5 June 29, 1965 H. A. SCOTT ETAL 3,191,475

SHEAR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOVING WEB Filed March 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS HARRY A Qcofl' AUMCAPHER BY 5 i 7144144, Mg ATTORNEYS June 29,1965 H. A. SCOTT ETAL 3,

SHEAR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOVING WEB Filed March 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JlI lu- 'llllllllllihlla 1 INVENTORS Hmzrzv A Sco-r-r ac names HUHCRPHEEMin/p a;

ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 Filed March 18, 1963 H. A. sco-r-r ETAL3,191,475

SHEAR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOVING WEB 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :FIGJl INVENTORS HARRYA SCOTT s UNCHPHER ATTORNEYS United States Patent() York Filed Mar. 18,1963, Ser. No. 265,663 13 Claims. (Cl. 83-455) This invention relates ingeneral to new and useful improvements in shear mechanisms, and morespecifically to a novel shear assembly particularly adapted for shearinga moving web.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to utilize a fixedlymounted shear of the type which operates in a plane transversely of amoving web for the purpose of shearing the moving web without anycompensation being made in the operation of the shear for the fact thatthe web is moving. It is proposed to provide suitable web stack storagemeans which stores a portion of the moving web that is delivered to webfeed means at the time the shear is operated so that the portion of theweb aligned with and to be sheared by the shear is stationary at thetime it is contacted by the shear.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel shear assemblyfor a moving web wherein the web is drawn through the shear and there isdisposed intermediate the shear and web feed means a web slack storageassembly which is automatically operable to store slack out of themoving web passing through the shear and to automatically discharge thestored web during the operation of the shear at the demand rate of theweb feed means whereby the web is constantly moved through the feedmeans during the initial portion of the shear operation wherein the web,although it continues to move through the feed means at thepredetermined rate, is stationary at the shear so that the shear isoperative on a stationary web portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide the combination with ashear of the type having a fixed blade and a reciprocating blade, webstorage means which includes a pair of spaced web guides and amovablethird web guide which, in cooperation with the fixed web guides, servesto form a loop in the moving web, and there being means forsimultaneously retracting the third web guide and moving the movableshear blade whereby the stored web portion is delivered at the time theshear is operated wherein the web aligned with the shear remainsstationary until it has been severed.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel web feed andshear assembly wherein feed means are normally provided for drawing aweb through a shear, there being a web slack providing means disposedintermediate the shear and the feedmeans, and second feed means foreffecting the pushing of the web through the shear to the firstmentioned feed means whereby at the start of a web feeding operation,the web is pushed, after which it is drawn with respect to the shear, sothat after each shearing operation, the newly formed leading edge of theweb may be pushed through the shear for the eventual drawing thereof bythe first mentione feed means.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel shear assemblyfor shearing moving webs, the shear assembly being of an extremelysimple construction as compared to flying shears and the like and at thesametime being operable to assure an easily formed cut transversely ofthe web with the cut being accurately produced.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel method ofshearing a moving web utilizing a fixedly mounted shear, the methodincluding the steps of storing the web intermediate the shear and feedmeans for the web, and then at the time the shear is being operated,paying out the stored web portion so that the movement of the web at theshear is momentarily discontinued and the shearing operation takes placeon a fixed web portion.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIGURES 1 through 6 are schematic elevational views showing the variouspositions of the apparatus of this invention during a sequence ofoperation.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takenthrough the apparatus and shows the specific details thereof.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 and shows specifically the details of the webfeed means for initially.

pushing a web through the shear.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal secfeed means.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the means for varying thepositions of the movable rolls of the feed means of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken generally alongthe line 11-11 of FIGURE 7 and shows specifically the details of theshear.

In orderto provide for a full understanding of the purpose and structureof the various parts of the invention, reference is first made to theschematic illustations of FIGURES 1 through 6. The shear assembly, whichis generally referred to by the numeral 15, includes a shear, generallyreferred to by the numeral 16. The shear 16 includes a fixed shearmember 17 and a movable shear member 13. A web 20 extends between theshear mem bers 17 and 18 and is adapted to be severed thereby. The web20 is normally drawn through the shear 16 by web feed means, generallyreferred to by the numeral 21.

The web feed means 21 includes a driven feed roll 22 and Q a back-uproll 23.

It is to be understood that in accordance with this invention, the web20 must be stationary at the point of engagement by the shear 16 duringa shearing operation. border to accomplish this, the shear assemblyincludes a web slack providing device, generally referred to by thenumeral 24. The slack providing device 24 is disposed intermediate theshear 16 and the feed means 21, and includes a pair of guide rolls 25and 26 which are spaced longitudinally of the direction of the movementof the web a distance generally equal to the diameter of one of theguide rolls. A third web guide roll 27 is mounted for movement inbetween and out from between the guide rolls and 26 with the web 20, asis clearly shown in FIGURE 1, passing under the guide roll 25 up aroundand over the guide roll 27 and then under the guide roll 26. By movingthe guide roll 27 up between the guide rolls 25 and 26, an intermediateloop 28 may be formed in the web 20 for storage purposes between theshear 16 and the feed means 21.

Secondary feed means; generally referred to by the numeral 29, areprovided for initially feeding the web 20 through the shear 16, throughthe slack providing device 24 and in between the feed rolls 22 and 23.The feed means 29 includes a fixedly mounted feed roll 30 and a movableback-up roll 31 which is mounted for movement towards and away from thefeed roll 30. Normally, the roll 31 is spaced from the feed roll 30Patented June 29, 1365 i a w 7 so that the feed means 29. have no affecton the feeding of the web 20. In this manner, the web 20 is normallydrawnthrough the shear 16 by the feed means 21 and when the leadingportion of the web'Zil is severed, there will be no feedingof the webbythe feed means 29.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that when it is desired tocut the web 20, the shear 16 is actuated to move the lower shear member18 upwardly, as is shown in FIGURE 2. As the shear member 18 movesupwardly, the third guide roll 27 is permitted to move downwardly sothat the slack stored in the web is received by the feed means 21 andthe web 20 in the immediate vicinity of the shear 16 is stationaryduring the shearing operation.

When the leading portion of the web has been sheared by the shear 16, itis continued to be fed by the feed means 21 while the trailing portionremains stationary. The backward movement of the portion of the webwhich has not passed through the shear 16 is restricted by a. pluralityof dogs 32 so that the unsevered portion of the web remains stationaryand ready for further advancement when called for.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that as the movable shearmember moves upwardly the third web guide 27 is in the process of movingdownwardly so that the movement of the web 20 past the shear I6 isstopped.

This continues until the elements of the shear assembly 15 are broughtinto engagement with the Web and serve to sever the web. The severed webis then drawn out of the apparatus, which is the subject of thisinvention, by the web feed means 21, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4.The movable back-up rolls 31 of the feed means 29 are then lifted forcooperation with the fixed feed roll 30 to effect the feeding of thenewly formed leading edge of the web through the shear 16, the slackproviding device 24 and the feed means 21, as is clearly shown in FIGURE5.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 6 wherein it will be seen that as theweb is fed through the slack providing device 24, slack is accumulatedso as to be available for paying out to the feed means 21 at the time ofthe shearing operation.

Referring now to FIGURES 7, 8 and 11 in particular, it will be seen thatthe shear assembly 15 includes a frame, generally referred to by thenumeral 33. The frame 33 consists primarily of a pair of side plates 34and 35 which are connected together at the lower edges thereof by meansof a pair of transverse supports 36 and 37. The side plates 34 and 35also have the lower portions thereof connected together by lowertransverse frame members 38 and 39 which are of inverted channelconfigurations. The upper portions of the plates 34 and 35 are connectedtogether by upper transverse frame members of which only one transverseframe member 40 is shown. A cover plate 41 extends over the top of theapparatus of the shear assembly 15 between the side plates 34 and 35.

The web 20 is received in the shear assembly 15 over a generallyhorizontal flange 42 of an angle member 43 which is supported by a pairof brackets 44 extending to the left from the side plates 34 and 35. Theflange 42 has associated therewith the anti-back-up dogs 32 which aremounted on a transverse shaft 45 which has the ends thereof suitablyjournalled in bearings 46 shown in FIG- URE 8. The shaft 45 is supportedintermediate its ends by means of a bearing 47 supported by a dependingarm 43 secured by means of a bracket 49 to the upper transverse framemember 40. 4

The anti-back-up dogs 32 are normally engaged by gravity with the uppersurface of the moving web 20 and have a tendency to clamp the web 20against the hori-' zontal ilange 42 in the event there is any backwardmovement of the web 20. The shaft 45 carries a dog releasing lever 59which is engageable with a catch member 51 carried by each dog 32, as isclearly shown in FIGURE 7 After the web 20' passesfove'r the horizontalflange 42;

it passes in between therolls of the feed'means 29. The driven roll 36of the feed means 29 is carried by a shaft 52 which is journalled insuitable bearings 53 carried by the side plates 34 and 35. The shaft 52extends beyond the side plate 35 and the outer end thereof is pro- Videdwith a drive sprocket 54. The feed roll 30, as is clearly shown inFIGURE 8, extends a major portion of. the width of the frame 33.

The previously described movable feed roll 31 is actually in the form ofa pair of feed rolls which are relatively narrow and engage only thecentral portion of Cir ' feed rolls 31 may be moved the feed roll 30. Inorder to facilitate the mounting of the feed rolls 31, the frame 33includes a pair of transversely extending plates 55, as is generallyshown in FIGURES 7 and 9. The plates 55 have extending therebetweensupport plates 56 and 57.- The plate 56 has rotatably journalled thereinan eccentric mount 58 while a similar eccentric mount 59 is journalledin the plate 57. A shaft 60 extends between and is preferably secured tothe mounts 58 and 59 for swinging or rotatable mevement therewith. Thefeed rolls 31 are rotatably journalled on the shaft 60.

It will be readily apparent that due to the eccentric construction ofthe mounts 53 and 59, the position of the shaft 63 may be variedrelative to the shaft 52 so that the between a position cooperatwith thefeed roll 30 and a position widely spaced from the feed roll 30 whereinthere is no web feeding cooperation between the rolls.

In order to effect a change in the position of the shaft 6%), theeccentric mount 53 is provided with a gear 61 with which there is mesheda gear 62. The gear 62 is secured to one end of a shaft 63 which isrotatably journalled in a pair of bearings 64 carried by the plates 55.The shaft 63 is provided adjacent one end thereof with :a crank arm 65which has a bifurcated end 66 is which there is secured an end of apiston rod 67 of a double :acting fluid motor 68. The fluid motor 68 isof a conventional type and is provided with a pivotal mount 69 car-:ried by the frame member 38. The fluid motor 68 will do operated in amanner to be described hereinafter to effact the shifting of the shaftand the movement of the feed rolls 31 between operative and inoperativepositions.

The plates55 have angle brackets 70 secured to upper portions thereofwith the angle brackets 70, in turn, supporting a guid plate 71 for theweb 29. The feed rolls 31 are adapted to extend through an opening 72 inthe plate 71, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 8. An angle guide member 73is carried by one of the angle members 70 and has an upper flange whichserves as an extension of the plate 71 to effect the supporting andguiding of the web 2! intermediate the feed means 29 and the shear 16.

The fixed member 17 of the ally U-shaped frame 74 which shaped brackets75 secured to plates 34 and 35, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 7 and 11.Suitable fastening means are carried by the ends of the frame 74 and thebrackets '75 to effect the desired centering of the frame 74. The frame'74 includes an up per reinforcing web 76 and a lower reinforcing web 77which are reinforced in the central portions thereof by means ofintegral gussets 78 and 79, respectively. The lower reinforcing Web 77has secured to the side thereof a fixed upper knife blade 86 which isadjustably mounted.

The movable shear'member 18 includes a rigid frame 81 which issubstantially of the same construction as the frame '74, but issupported in an inverted position. The frame 31 supports a lowerknifeblade 82 which is mounted in the same manner as is the'knife bladeand in opposed cooperating relation.

The ends of the frame 81 of the movable shear member I8, in lieu ofbeing vertically frame shear I6 includs a generis carried by a pair ofU- the inner face of the side 74, are mounted in suitable guides 83carried by the offset as are the ends of the.

trics 86 having engaged therewith yokes 87 which are parts 'ofconnecting rods, generally referred to by the numeral 88. Eachconnecting rod 83 is provided at the upper end thereof with a bracket 89which is rigidly secured to the frame 81 and which is connected to thecon necting rod 38 by means of a pin 90. The intermediate portion of theconnecting rod 33 is of an adjustable length and includes a turn buckletype assembly 91 to facilitate this adjustment and thus accurate controlof the movement of the knife blade 82 relative to the knife blade 80.

The shaft 84 is driven by a power unit 92 which may be of the variablespeed type and which has a drive sprocket 93. The drive sprocket 93 isaligned with a sprocket 9d and is drivingly connected thereto by meansof a drive chain 95. The sprocket 94 is part of a conventional singlerevolution clutch assembly 96 which is of the electrically controlledtype. Normally, the shaft 84 is stationary and rotation thereof isaccomplished only by energizing the clutch 96. It is highly desirablethat the rotation of the shaft 84 in any single rotation thereof belimited to exactly one complete cycle of rotation. To this end, althoughthe electric clutch 96 has been provided, the shaft 84 is also providedwith a conventional electric brake 97 which serves to instantaneouslystop the rotation of the shaft 84 When the clutch 96 is disengaged. Ifit is so desired, the brake 97 may be provided with the same controlmeans as the clutch 96 so that when the electric clutch 96 is energized,the brake 97 will be deenergized, and the brake 97 is energized when theelectric clutch 96 is de-energized.

The guide rolls 25 and 26 of the slack providing device 24 are carriedby shafts 98 and 99 which are suitably supported by the side plates 34and 35. The side plates 34 and 35 are provided with vertically disposedguideways 100 intermediate the guide rolls 25 and 26. The guideways 1%receive guide blocks 191 disposed at opposite ends of a transverse shaft162 on which the third guide roll 27 is iournalled.

The guide roll 27 is vertically reciprocated by means of a double-actingfiuid motor 103 which includes a piston rod 104. A connecting typefitting 105 is adjustably secured to the upper end of the piston rod 104and is secured to the shaft 162. The lower end of the fluid motor 103 ispivotally supported by a bracket 1116 carried by the transverse framemember 39.

In order to facilitate the feeding of the Web 26 through the shear 16below the guide roll 25 and over the guide roll 27, there is provided alower web guide 1ii7 which is supported by a transverse angle member108. An upper web guide 109 cooperates with the web guide 107 and issupported by a transverse angle member 110. A portion of the Web guide109 is hingedly mounted so that it, in combination with a divergingportion of the web guide 107, defines a wide entrance opening 111 toassure passage of the leading edge of the web between the web guides 107and 109.

After the leading edge of the web 211 initially passes over the loweredguide roll 27, it is guided into the feed means 21 by means of a webguide plate 112 supported by a transverse angle member 113. After theleading edge of the web 20 passes over the guide 112, it passes betweenthe feed rolls 22 and 23. The feed roll 22 is carried by a shaft 114which is suitably journalled for rotation in bearings (not shown)carried by the side plates 34 and 35. One end of the shaft 114 projectsthrough the side plate 35 and is provided with a drive sprocket 115. Thefeed roll 23, which is actually a back-up roll, is carried by a shaft116 which is suitably supported by the side plates 34 and 35..

Referring now to FIGURE 8, it will be seen that the frame 33 supports apair of electrically operated control valves 117 and 118 for the fluidmotors 68 and 1163, respectively. The control valves 117 and 118 areconventional valves and may be actuated by any desired type of operator.

In order to provide for the automatic operation of the shear assembly15, a web detector 119 is provided adiacent the feed means 21. The webdetector is preferably of the photocell type and, as is schematicallyillustrated in FIGURE 7, includes a light source 121? and a pick-up head121. The position of the web detector 119 may be varied from that shownin Fl'GURE 7.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the web 2% is drawnbetween the inoperative feed means 29, and through the shear 16 and theslack providing de vice 24 by the feed means 21 which are of the pullingtype. Suitable control means are actuated to effect the operation of theelectric clutch 96 and the electric brake 97'. These same control meansnormally also operate the control valve 118 so as to effect the movementof the piston rod 1% and the guide roll 27 carried thereby downwardly.The control means may be of any type including a manual device, a devicewhich is operated by a web length measuring device, or a detector formarl:- ings on the web. The manner in which the electric clutch 96 isenergized and the operation of the fluid motor 103 is initiated is not,in itself, a part of this invention. At this time, it is pointed outthat it is possible to provide control means on the shaft 84 foroperating the control valve 113 so that the operation of the fluid motor183 has a slight time delay as compared to the energization of theelectric clutch 96.

When the electric clutch 96 is energized, the movable shear member 18begins its upward movement. When the fluid motor is actuated, the guideroll 27 is moved downwardly so that as the guide roll moves down, theshear member 18 moves up. The rate of movement of the guide roll 27downwardly is controlled so that the amount of web delivered by theslack providing device 24 is equal to that which is fed by the feedmeans 21. As a result, the movement of the web 26 at the shear 16 stopsand the web remains stationary at the time the shear member 18 engagesthe web 23 and cooperates with the shear member 17 to sever the Web.After the web has been severed, the third web guide 27 continues to movedownwardly to a position below the normal straight path of the web 26,as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4. At the same time, the trailing edge ofthe web 2% is fed through the feed means 21 and the severed portion ofthe web is utilized in any desired manner.

At the termination of the web severing operation, the feeding of the web20 is again initiated in any desired manner, including manually operablemeans, through the operation of the valve 117 to effect the operation ofthe fluid motor 63 in a manner wherein the feed roll 31 is moved up intocooperating relation with respect to the feed roll 30, which is driven.At this time it is pointed out, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4, thatthe web 20 remains between the feed rolls 3% and 31 at all times andwhen the feed rolls 30 and 31 cooperate, they function to push the newlyformed leading edge of the web 2t? through the shear 16, through theslack providing device 24 and between the feed rolls 22 and 23. As theleading edge of the web 2% approaches the feed rolls 22 and 23, it isdetected by the web detector 119 and the valves 117 and 118 are actuatedso as to lower the feed roll 31 and to move the third web guide 27upwardly between the web guides 25 and 26. This sequence of operation isclearly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

At this time it is pointed out that depending upon the position of theweb detector 119, it may be desirable to provide a slight time delay inthe electric circuit leading to the valves 117 and 118 to assure theengagement of the web 29 by the feed rolls 22 and 23 before the valves117 and 118 are actuated. Also, it is pointed out at this time that, ifso desired, the web detector 119 could also be utilized in shutting downthe drive mechanism of the shear assembly when the trailing edge of thesevered portion of the web passes the web detector and the web is nolonger aligned with the web detector.

It will be readily apparent that through the provision of simple meansto effect the feeding of the web and means for storing slack in themoving web, a conventional reciprocating fixedly mounted shear may beutilized for the purpose or" severing lengths of a web moving at a highspeed. Thus complicated flying shears and other expensive shearmechanisms are eliminated.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat minor modifications may be made in the shear assembly within thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of shearing a moving portion of a web utilizing a fixedlymounted shear comprising the steps of initially fOICiYl" a free end ofthe web through the shear, then drawing the web through the shear whilediscontinuing the forcing of the Web, storing a portion of the movingweb, and at the time of shearing stopping the movement of the web at theshear by paying out the stored web portion in accordance with themovement of the web.

2. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedly mountedalong a path of web movement, web feed means for drawing a web throughsaid shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediate saidshear and said web-feed means for automatically supplying the web tosaid web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear at thetime of operation of said shear, second web feed means intermittentlyoperable to advance a newly' formed web leading edge through said shearand said web slack providing means to the first mentioned web feed meansin timed relation to the operation of said web slack providing means.

3. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedly mountedalong a path of web movement, web feed means for drawing a web throughsaid shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediate saidshear and said web feed means for automatically supplying the web tosaid web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear at thetime of operation of said shear, second web feed means intermittentlyoperable to advance a newly formed web leading edge through said shearand said web slack providing means to the first mentioned web feed meansin timed relation to the operation of said web slack providing means,said second feed means including a fixedly mounted rotatable feed rolland a cooperating movably mounted rotatable feed roll.

4. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedly mountedalong a path of web movement, web feed means for drawing a web throughsaid shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediate saidshear and said web feed means for automatically supplying the web tosaid web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear at thetime of operation of said shear, second web feed means intermittentlyoperable to advance a newly formed web leading edge through said shearand said web slack providing means to the first mentioned web :feedmeans in timed relation to the operation of said web slack providingmeans, said second feed means including a fixedly mounted rotatable feedroll and a cooperating movably mounted rotatable feed roll, and meansfor moving said movably mounted feed roll into cooperating relation'withrespect to said fixedly mounted feed roll to initiate web feed, andmeans for automatically retracting said movably mounted feed roll afterfeeding of the web to said first mentioned web a feed means is assured.-

5. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedly mountedalong a path of web movement, web feed means for drawing a web throughsaid shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediate saidshear and said web feed means for automatically supplying the web tosaid web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear at thetime of operation of said shear, second web feed means intermittentlyoperable to advance a newly formed web leading edge through said shearand said web slack providing means to the first mentioned web feed meansin timed relation to the operation of said web slack providing means,said second feed means including a fixedly mounted rotatable feed rolland a cooperating movably mounted rotatable feed roll, said movablymounted feed roll being carried by a shaft having eccentric mounts, saidmounts being conected by said shaft for rotation in unison, and meansdirectly connected to one of said mounts for directly rotating said onemount and for rotating the other of said mounts through said shaft.

- 6. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedlymounted along a path of Web movement, web feed means for drawing a webthrough said shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediatesaid shear and said web feed means for automatically supplying the webto said web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear atthe time of operation of said shear, said web slack providing meansincluding a pair of web guides spaced longitudinally of said web path,and a third web guide disposed intermediate said pair of web guides andmovable generally normal to said web path to form in cooperation withsaid pair of web guides a web loop of a size to provide the amount ofweb ted by said feed means during said shear operation, said third webguide having connected thereto support means for effecting theprojection and retraction thereof, means connected to said support meansfor effecting the retraction of said third web guide in timed relationto the operation of said shear, and other means for elfecting theprojection of said third web guide after a newly formed web leading edgeis engaged with said web feed means.

7. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedly mountedalong a path of web movement, Web feed means for drawing a web throughsaid shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediate saidshear and said web feed means for automatically supplying the web tosaid web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear at thetime of operation of said shear, said web slack providing meansincluding a pair of web guides spaced longitudinally of said web path,and a third web guide disposed intermediate said pair of web guides andmovable generally normal to said web path to form in cooperation withsaid pair of web guides a web loop of a size to provide the amount ofweb fed by said feed means during said shear operation, said third webguide having connected thereto support means for effecting theprojection and retraction thereof, means connected to said support meansfor effecting the retraction of said third web guide simultaneous withthe operation of said shear, and other means for effecting theprojection of said third web guide after a newly formed web leading edgeis engaged with said web feed means.

8. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedly mountedalong a path of web movement, web feed means for drawing a web throughsaid shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediate saidshear and said web feed means for automatically supplying the web tosaid web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear at thetime of operation of said shear, said web slack providing meansincluding a pair of web guides spaced longitudinally of said web path,and a third web guide disposed interrnediatesaid pair of web guides andmovable generally normal to said web path .-to form in cooperation withsaid pair of web guides a web loop of a size to provide the amount ofweb fed by said feed means during said shear operation, second web feedmeans intermittently operable to advance a newly formed web leading edgethrough said shear and said web slack providing means to the firstmentioned web feed means in timed relation to the operation of said webslack providing means, said second feed means including a fixedlymounted rotatable feed roll and a cooperating movably mounted rotatablefeed roll.

9. The shear assembly of claim 8 wherein said third web guide hasconnected thereto support means for eifecting the projection andretraction thereof, means connected to said support means for effectingthe retraction of said third web guide in timed relation to theoperation of said shear, and other means for eifecting the projection ofsaid third web guide after a newly formed web leading edge is engagedwith said web feed means.

10. The shear assembly of claim 8 wherein said third web guide hasconnected thereto support means for efiecting the projection andretraction thereof, means connected to said support means for efiectingthe retraction of said third web guide simultaneous with the operationof said shear, and another means for eifecting the projection of saidthird web guide simultaneous with the re traction of said movablymounted feed roll.

11. A shear assembly for a moving web comprising a shear fixedly mountedalong a path of web movement, web feed means for drawing a web throughsaid shear, and web slack providing means disposed intermediate saidshear and said Web feed means for automatically supplying the web tosaid web feed means with said web being stationary at said shear at thetime of operation of said shear, said web slack providing meansincluding a pair of web guides spaced longitudinally of said web path,and a thirdweb guide disposed intermediate said pair of web guides andmovable generally normal to said web path to form in cooperation withsaid pair of web guides a web loop of a size to provide the amount ofweb fed by said feed means during said shear operation, means connectedto said third web guide slack storage for reciproeating said third webguide between a position wherein said third web guide overlaps saidfirst and second web guides and a web releasing position remote fromsaid first and second web guides, intermittently operated second webfeed means in advance of said shear, and means for initiating theoperation of said second web feed means only when said shear is open andsaid third web guide is in the Web releasing position thereof.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said third web guide reciprocatingmeans is operable to move said third web guide to the slack storageposition only after a free end of a web is engaged by said second feedmeans.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said third web guide reciprocatingmeans is in the form of a reciproeating shaft supporting said third webguide.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,543,434 6/25Hardrnan 83236 1,579,953 4/26 Roble 226-117 2,283,504 5/42 Johnson 832603,053,129 9/62 Aronson et al 83-236 3,102,673 9/63 Aronson et al. 832363,103,843 9/63 Schoenberger 83236 OTHER REFERENCES InternationalBusiness Machine Technical Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 1, June 1958,High-Speed Tape Punch, H. Dunn (copy in class 226, subclass 117).

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

LEON PEAR, Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF SHEARING A MOVING PORTION OF A WEB UTILIZING A FIXEDLYMOUNTED SHEAR COMPRISING THE STEPS OF INTIALLY FORCING A FREE END OF THEWEB THROUGH THE SHEAR, THEN DRAWING THE WEB THROUGH THE SHEAR WHILEDISCONTINUING THE FORCING OF THE WEB, STORING A PORTION OF THE MOVINGWEB, AND AT THE TIME OF SHEARING STOPPING THE MOVEMENT OF THE WEB AT THESHEAR BY PAYING OUT THE STORED WEB PORTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEMOVEMENT OF THE WEB.
 2. A SHEAR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOVING WEB COMPRISING ASHEAR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOVING WEB COMPRISING A SHEAR FIXEDLY MOUNTED ALONGA PATH OF WEB MOVEMENT, WEB FEED MEANS FOR DRAWING A WEB THROUGH SAIDSHEAR, SAID SHEAR AND SAID WEB FEED MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SUPPLYINGTHE WEB TO SAID WEB FEED MEANS WITH SAID WEB BEING STATIONARY AT SAIDSHEAR AT THE TIME OF OPERATION OF SAID SHEAR, SECOND WEB FEED MEANSINTERMITTENTLY OPERABLE TO ADVANCE A NEWLY FORMED WEB LEADING EDGETHROUGH SAID SHEAR AND SAID WEB SLACK PROVIDING MEANS TO THE FIRSTMENTIONED WEB FEED MEANS IN TIMED RELATION TO THE OPERATION OF SAID WEBSLACK PROVIDING MEANS.